The eye-catching performance of the race was that of runner-up Casual Pass, having only a second start in almost a year.

Casual Pass made good ground late and, according to jockey Danny Brereton, had he not received a bump on the home turn, would have finished closer.

Another excellent performance was that of Melbourne Cup hopeful Maybe Better, which finished fifth.

"That was an excellent performance," trainer Brian Mayfield-Smith said. "He's getting fitter and fitter and once he gets to a certain level of fitness, I will take him to handicap racing, as that seems to be a more genuinely run affair than weight-for-age racing.

"I'm only interested in one race and that's the Melbourne Cup."

Australian Cup winner Pompeii Ruler, which was having its second start in a year, had excuses.

"He was caught out three-wide with no cover and he seemed to be over-racing," Pompeii Ruler's trainer Mick Price said.

For Martin, the victory of Typhoon Zed was the gelding's second at group 1 level, having won the Galaxy at Randwick early this year.

"He's been a great horse to train, he's done everything we've asked, and today he had to sit on the outside of the leader and do all of the hard work, but he answered everything that Nash called upon him," Martin said.

"I'll probably put him away now and set him for another race over the Melbourne carnival, he relishes racing fresh so that is how we'll plan his races."

For Waterhouse, Tuesday Joy took another significant step towards winning this year's Caulfield and Melbourne Cups with its impressive win.

Circling the field, Tuesday Joy, with Rawiller on board, raced away to win the weight-for-age mares' event, to underline the improvement this spring.

"She's come back better than ever. She's right on target for the big races and she felt great and a little improvement in her which is always a bonus," said Rawiller.

"She hit a little flat spot near the turn but she came again and in the end had too much ability for them."

Tuesday Joy will now run in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on Saturday fortnight before running in the Caulfield Cup.

However, Darren Beadman is expected to ride Tuesday Joy in the Caulfield Cup.